Ancient Tablet Shows Pythagorean Theorem 1000 Years Before His Birth
An almost 4000-year-old clay tablet displays an early form of applied geometry practiced by the ancient Babylonians, thousands of years before the math was initially thought to have been discovered.
Did the Babylonians Have Geometry?
Trigonometry was largely understood to have been first discovered by the Greeks around the second century BCE. The word itself came from a combination of the Greek words for ‘earth’ and ‘measure.’
Prominent figures such as Euclid and Pythagoras created foundations and theorems that were instrumental in advancing the understanding of mathematics throughout the western world. Some of their work is still being used in current modern applications, such as Pythagoras’ theorem regarding right triangles.
While the Greeks may have had the greatest impact worldwide with their mathematical discoveries, it would eventually be revealed that they were not the first. In 2017, researchers at the University of New South Wales found a famous Babylonian tablet from 3,700 years ago, known as “Plimpton 322,” (seen below) that contained a trigonometric table inscribed on it. It had sequences of numbers that are known as Pythagorean triples, despite it being thousands of years before Pythagoras lived when the tablet was used.
Image: Wikicommons
Analysis: The Ancients Were Math Nerds
Dr. Daniel Mansfield of the University of New South Wales, who was a part of the same team that discovered Plimpton 322 in 2017, revealed that a different clay tablet from the same time period in Babylonia contained the oldest known record of applied geometry.
The tablet, known as “Si.427,” contains mathematical and legal records of land transactions at the time. It was discovered first in 1894 in what is now the province of Baghdad in Iraq—finding it proved to be a journey in itself for Mansfield, and efforts to decipher it tacked on further months of effort.
The tablet, similar to Plimpton 322, also displays the use of Pythagorean triples to make proper right angles. Si.427’s purpose regarding land has also led to researchers hypothesizing that one of the potential reasons Babylonians were interested in these more advanced forms of mathematics was to create accurate partitions and borders of their land.
The Babylonians created their own solutions, with the boundaries displayed on several additional tablets showcasing an apparent mastery of geographical and trigonometric properties. According to Dr. Mansfield, the Pythagorean triples used on the clay tablets is especially interesting because of their variety.
An easy way to create a right angle is to create a triangle with a 3-4-5 pattern, with the largest number being attributed to the hypotenuse. The Babylonians used several different Pythagorean triples to accomplish the same goal, despite their numeric system making it particularly difficult and overall limiting in which triples can be created.
Outlook: Ancient Math and ITs Impact on the Future
From a historical perspective, the implications of these discoveries are relatively clear. The Babylonians possessed a significant understanding of geometry and trigonometry before it was even a thought in the minds of their alleged progenitors.
When it comes to Dr. Mansfield, his next move is to figure out the full extent of applications that ancient Babylonians used, what he refers to as, “proto-trigonometry” for. In addition to the information displayed on the front, Si.427’s backside contains a uniquely puzzling mystery that Mansfield hopes to soon crack.
In large writing on the back of the tablet are the numbers: 25:29, written in this sexagesimal format. No one currently knows what these numbers mean, or even what they could potentially be referring to or measuring. However, Mansfield has stated he would like to work with other historians and mathematicians to develop theories as to what they may be.
See more here: thedebrief.org
Header image: UNSW Sydney
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Jerry Krause
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Hi PSI Readers,
First, I must remind one that geometry is about relationships and not numbers as trigonometry is.
Stonehenge is as old as, and possibly older, then most of the known ancient civilizations. I wrote about Stonehenge and geometry in 1916. (https://principia-scientific.com/ancestors-tracing-history-scientific-method/)
And I closed this essay with: “And I hope to see which reader of this can be the first to describe how to divide a circle into sevenths by drawing circles and right lines.” I do not remember that any reader did this. So, here is a second opportunity.
Have a good day, Jerry
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Lunatictoctarian
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https://pastebin.com/zqWSHwhm
Let’s talk simplices, voronoi diagrams, Jerry!
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Lunatictoctarian
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I have far more interesting problems for you to solve, Jerry.
Such as how to generalize a minkowski sum/difference, simplex based algorithm (that is, only ever using the representation of say, a tetrahedron in 3d) to determine distance, collision, interference, features between two arbitrary convex objects, by using support functions.
Coz I did that.
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Lunatictoctarian
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Arbitrary dimensions, btw. Including time.
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Lunatictoctarian
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Oh sorry, I lied, I meant arbitrary amounts of convex objects, too.
Like, in 3d, a line + a sphere, and also a triangle…vs a tetrahedron + a cylinder.
With only a tetrahedron representing the relevant spatial relation.
Lunatictoctarian
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Again, sorry, I said “time” when I meant VELOCITY and time. As you can describe velocity, geometrically, with a line…which I already did.
So for instance, a sphere extruded by a line. That is the potential space of that object in 3d, as the result of a discrete integrating function. The projection along that line, relates to the the position in time (in linear time, at least).
Lunatictoctarian
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The really fun stuff starts when you get to trying to understand inverse dynamics.
Lunatictoctarian
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It’s actually really fucking funny.
When you use inverse dynamics to dictate forward kinetics.
Alan Stewart
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Simplicity: Instead of squaring the sides, adding and taking the square root to get the length of the hypotenuse; simply multiply a side x 1.4142135 or conversely to get the lengths of the sides; multiply the hypotenuse x .4142135. Multiplying that last number times the diameter of an octagon (based on a circle) will give you the length of each side.
I’ve been a cabinet maker.
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Nohomehere
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It is interesting that the clay tablets topic comes up in a time where the main stream news is repeating the same story over and over.. boring.
But I see a connection of this math discovery that the author attributes to nerds and land surveyors. I think he is alluding to property devisions or property rights …
What the sumerian tablets or cuneiform tablets mostly revealed were old records of economic contracts or promises to pay , you know , credit card receipts.
The math was for economic continuity.
the Importance of property bounderies involved strict records of who owned what for purposes of colateral, and asset forfeiture. things of value , even slave was an asset or yes even you wife and kids.
Thank goodness there was the andurarum laws of Hamurabi . A general act of debt forgiveness known as Jubilee in the Bible.
The calculation was, most likely to estimate the ability to pay off a loan.
The Hebrews “counted the days ” before jubilee estimating how much to lend to a borrower before the end of debts by law. walk away threshold date. In 2 yrs I will be stuck with a outstanding balance due . I either raise the payments principal or lower the amount.
That is , I think why histiry is ignored by all as fiction . If people had this knowledge the oligarchs could not fool them. I wouldn’t want my family takin away as debt slaves for more that the time alloted. But crops could have been poor and you lost a kid , a son sold . the land taken, but eventually you paid it off cause of no interest loans and new kings New administrations, tended to declare clean slate , just to get the economy back in balance. Property was returned ect…Funny how sofisticated yet we are led to believe that our society is more civilized. Maybe the weapon used on us was intended to create a debt bomb and blow up the economy of the usa.? Forfeiting assets to facist coporate oligarch creditors, like they did in “08” This is what the reverse side of the tablet will reveal. I bet ya!
https://positivapengar.se/michael-hudson-4000-years/
Reply
nohomehere
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https://positivapengar.se/michael-hudson-4000-years/
It is interesting that the clay tablets topic comes up in a time where the main stream news is repeating the same story over and over.. boring.
But I see a connection of this math discovery that the author attributes to nerds and land surveyors. I think he is alluding to property devisions or property rights …
What the sumerian tablets or cuneiform tablets mostly revealed were old records of economic contracts or promises to pay , you know , credit card receipts.
The math was for economic continuity.
the Importance of property bounderies involved strict records of who owned what for purposes of colateral, and asset forfeiture. things of value , even slave was an asset or yes even you wife and kids.
Thank goodness there was the andurarum laws of Hamurabi . A general act of debt forgiveness known as Jubilee in the Bible.
The calculation was, most likely to estimate the ability to pay off a loan.
The Hebrews “counted the days ” before jubilee estimating how much to lend to a borrower before the end of debts by law. walk away threshold date. In 2 yrs I will be stuck with a outstanding balance due . I’d either raise the payments principal or lower the amount.
That is , I think this is why history has ignored as fiction the tablets true importance. If people were armed with this knowledge the oligarchs could not fool them. I wouldn’t want my family takin away as debt slaves for more than the legal time alloted. But, crops could have been poor and you lost a son sold into slavery for x years at x amount per = paid debt. the land taken, but eventually you paid it off cause of no interest loans. Also new kings, New administrations, tended to declare clean slate , just to get the economy back in balance. Property was returned ect…Funny how sofisticated their math was yet we are led to believe that our society is more civilized. Maybe the weapon used on us was intended to create a debt bomb and blow up the economy of the usa.? Forfeiting assets to facist coporate oligarch creditors, a take over like they did in “08” under Mr. O. This is what the reverse side of the tablet will reveal. I bet ya! FORGIVE THE DEBT, and return balance to the country.
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Jerry Krause
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Hi Nohomehere and PSI Readers,
Nohomehere, by your link you document your interest in Economic Issues!!! By your comments you document your interest in Economic Issues!!!
And your comments document the PROBLEM OF TUNNEL VISION for the Readers of PSI.
I remind you both, the Apostles all died not knowing what their efforts would accomplish!!! Galileo died not knowing what his efforts and book would accomplish!!!
I write essays and comments, which are posted by the PSI editors, not knowing what they might accomplish!!! For I know that I do not know the FUTURE.
For Jesus told his Disciples that even He, God’s Only Son, did not know this. That only His Father knows the FUTURE!!!.
Have a good day, Jerry
Have a good day, Jerry
Reply